FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has not yet managed to find the right replacement for his captain Sergio Busquets, so he has decided to ask the player to renew for one more season in order to have time to find someone suitable.
After the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Busquets announced his retirement from the Spain national team and with this started the rumor of his possible departure from Barcelona at the end of the season, something that would possibly lead to his retirement. From that moment, Xavi together with the board of directors have begun to look for a new midfielder, although without success.
The list of possible substitutes for ‘Bussi’ is long and include Rúben Neves, N’Golo Kanté, Martín Zubimendi, but the team has not been able to achieve anything in terms of negotiations because it is not in the best economic situation.
Given this, according to the newspaper ‘Sport’, Xavi has asked Busquets to stay for at least one more season. Initially the coach had approved the player’s departure, however, it seems that he has changed his mind and hopes to be able to count on his friend and coach for the next harvest.
On the other hand, the president of the Barça team, Joan Laporta, recently indicated in an interview that Busquets received several offers from the MLS and would be looking favorably on reaching soccer in the United States.
For Busquets to continue, the player would have to lower his salary a lot, adds ‘Sport’. If he continues, he would have to earn around half of what he currently earns.
Barça will give Busquets all the time in the world to think about it. He has until the end of the season to decide whether to extend his contract until 2024.